26th May afternoon - admiral's flagship Defiance

"Sir?"

Cartwright had been standing near the pinrail but he looked over upon hearing Mister Leat's quiet exclamation. He couldn't think what might be the cause of it. There was nothing immediately notable going on around the weather deck. Was there?

Leat had not realised that he had sworn aloud, and lowered the telescope from his eye somewhat guiltily, turning to half-face Cartwright.

"Deverel's coming back," Leat said, lowering his voice so as not to be overheard...

...and so saying he handed the telescope to Cartwright, so he could see for himself.

Even without the aid of a glass it was possible to see a tiny procession of figures coming down the side of the flagship. The captain would be back soon.

"All hands to man the side!" Leat called, careful this time not to bellow in his fellow officer's ear, as the order was repeated on the bosun's pipe. "Prepare to receive the captain!"

Deverel, coming back? Cartwright accepted the offered telescope and trained it on the flagship. Damn. That was indeed Mister Deverel. What was all this about?

"How... lovely," he muttered, lowering the glass to study the boat. There was something odd about the passengers. Captain Bolitho had been alone when he was taken across initially, and with the addition of Mister Deverel there was another officer in the boat. So what... ah. Three. There were three officers. But that meant...

"It seems he has a companion, sir," Cartwright said quietly and offered the glass back.

Having spurred the deck into activity Leat took the glass again and trained it on the boat.

"A new young gentleman as well," he said. "Though I don't recognise him..."

No. Wait, he did. Lowering the telescope again he looked somewhat pale and sick again.

"It's that middie from the tavern last night," he hissed.

It was who? Cartwright shaded his eyes and peered at the slowly-approaching boat. He couldn't tell details, but it did look to be a midshipman and he didn't doubt Mister Leat's judgment.

"Hell."

Leat shared Cartwright's sentiments exactly. Not only were they getting Deverel back like the proverbial bad penny, but they were also receiving a middie that had only ever before witnessed them at a debauch.

"Do you think we have time to warn Bush?"

"If we are swift," was Cartwright's response. The first luff would not be pleased by any of this, certainly.

Kinsella too was watching the boat carefully to see if it would pull for starboard or larboard. He could see that it was returning with more officers than it when it had left. "Boat ahoy!" he called to Evans.

"It may be too late already," Leat commented, as he heard Kinsella's cry of "Boat ahoy!". But he caught sight of Bush, brought up on deck by the wailing of the pipes, and decided that any warning was better than none at all. He hurried over to his fellow lieutenant, touching his hat out of habit.

"Mr. Bush, a quick word about the boat. It's bringing us new messmates," Leat muttered hurriedly. "One of which Deverel."

"Deverel?" Bush blinked at Leat in surprise. He had appeared on deck anticipating the return of Captain Bolitho; he had not been anticipating news of Deverel's return. Hell and damnation. What had they done to be burdened with him again? Well, there was no time to stew about it now. The captain was coming back aboard.

"Thank you for informing me, Mr. Leat," he said quietly, before making his way over to the side.

"Not at all, Mr. Bush," Leat murmured, before standing aside to take up his position on the quarterdeck for the captain's return.

As the pipes announced his arrival, Bolitho climbed up the side and stepped onto the deck. He was still fuming over the double annoyance of dealing with Croker and being saddled with Deverel yet again. At least he finally had orders now, which meant they could put to sea once more. There had been enough incidents the last few days to make him rather glad to be leaving port--even if Deverel was going to be with them.

Thankfully everything seemed to be in order aboard the Terpsichore, which was some comfort. It did Bolitho good to know that he could trust his officers--well, except perhaps for his newly re-acquired third lieutenant--to carry out their duties properly.

"Boat ahoy!"

"Terpsichore!" Tide Evans answered in a fine ringing bellow. He steered the boat toward the side and nodded in quiet approval as Chase stood up with his boathook in hand. This had been a strange errand, but they were returning as a proper boat crew should.

The deck came to attention as the captain came up the sides, and the officers removed their hats. Sure enough there was Deveral, looking not at all happy to be there, followed closely by his wretched midshipman. Leat inwardly grimaced. He was not looking forward to supper in the wardroom this evening where they would have to 'welcome' the new member of their mess. Leat did not envy Bush the task.